[81.07] The Canadian Astronomy Education and Public Outreach Initiative

J. R. Percy (U. Toronto)

In Canada, astronomers do not have access to science and
mathematics education funding such as NSF and NASA provide
in the USA. Nevertheless, the Canadian astronomical
community has always been very active in education and
public outreach (EPO) at the local, provincial, and national
level, thanks to the initiative of astronomers -- both
professional and amateur -- and their institutions and
associations. In 2001, the Canadian astronomical community
embarked on a major EPO initiative, led by the Canadian
Astronomical Society (CAS) in partnership with the Royal
Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) and other
organizations. The initiative was motivated by a new
long-range plan for astronomy in Canada, by the availability
of modest funding for EPO, by the appearance of astronomy in
the school science curriculum in several provinces, and by a
heightened national interest in science education and
literacy. As Chair of the CAS Education Committee, and
coordinator of the EPO initiative, I shall describe its
origin, funding, goals and strategies, organization,
partnerships, programs, and projects.

Supported by a PromoScience grant from NSERC Canada.

The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address
for comments about the abstract:
jpercy@utm.utoronto.ca